Collection: Indian Return Gifts & Pooja Favours

Return gifts are the small things handed to guests as they leave a pooja, a wedding or a housewarming — the Indian custom of not letting anyone go empty-handed. The difficulty in the US is quantity: you need twenty of something that does not feel like a token. Sixty-nine pieces here, sold as sets and singles, shipped from California so nothing has to come from India at the last minute.

Which one do you need

Under $50, for larger guest counts. A wooden kumkum tikka box at $18, a hand-painted pen box at $35, Pichwai cow metal trays from $25, a set of ten Bandhani potli drawstring pouches at $48, Moroccan stained glass lanterns as a pair at $45, and several t-light holder sets from $42. The potli bags are the classic: a pouch each guest can take, and you fill them yourself.

$50 to $100, for a smaller list. Wooden tissue box holders, wine bottle boxes in red and green, a giraffe or bird pair, a set of four reversible Patola brocade mats, hand-painted wall plates at $45, and gold-finish urli sets. Substantial enough to be the gift rather than an addition to one.

Over $100, as a single gift. Brass and antique silver: a Ganesha statue, a Kamdhenu cow with calf, samai oil lamps, a Raksha Bandhan pooja thali set, engraved urli bowls, and a set of five brass mini urlis at $90 that works as either one gift or five.

Buying in bulk. The sets of ten — potli bags, mini urlis, t-light holders — are the ones designed for a guest list rather than a person. Order early for Diwali; these are the items that go out of stock first.

Occasions these are bought for

Griha pravesh and housewarmings, Satyanarayan Puja, Varalakshmi Vratam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtami, Navratri and Golu, Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, weddings, mehndi and haldi functions, baby showers and naming ceremonies.